Mikhail Prokhorov – The Brooklyn Game

DFJlzRUXYAAIGaX

Raptors

Mikhail Prokhorov’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

By Elizabeth Swinton

Harris, Kidd

Nets

The Brooklyn Nets’ Top 5 Trade Deadline Deals

By Andrew Hughes

Marks

Nets

Sean Marks: The First 367 Days

By Charles Maniego

1. Joe Johnson (3 seasons, 231 games) Joe Johnson has been close to very good, and for the Brooklyn Nets, that’s enough to be the best. Throughout injuries and moping and 141 wins and low-impact playoff runs and four coaches and general disappointment, Joe has been the main reason that it’s not that bad here. While his stats have been as pedestrian as his name—15.5 points on 43% shooting, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals per game—he has been the closest thing to a superstar the Brooklyn Nets have had for the most cumulative minutes. Deron Williams had a few games, Brook Lopez had a few games, Paul Pierce had his moments, Andray Blatche a few quarters. But Joe Johnson looked the part more often than anyone else. He was the most important player in the Brooklyn Nets' only playoff series win to date, where he beat up on Toronto's young wings like an older brother dominating pool basketball on a summer afternoon. He had the stretch of games in January 2014, starting with the OKC nail-biter that kickstarted Jason Kidd’s redemption run and prevented that second season from becoming too much of a disaster. In general, preventing the Nets from completely falling off has been Joe Jesus' main role. And for the most part, he's succeeded. The Brooklyn Nets are the Large Hadron Collider. I’m not sure what their purpose is, but the people involved claim they are important, and catastrophe always seems imminent. But Joe has been standing by, making sure every decimal point is in the right spot and everyone is wearing their safety goggles. Joe also hit a bunch of clutch shots after arriving in Brooklyn, cementing himself as the guy who kept getting the ball at the end of games. This is surely an anachronistic way to measure achievement (and a fairly nihilistic long-term strategy on the court), but it also says something positive about how the team has perceived Joe's talent and nerves. The guy who keeps getting asked to take the most important shots at the end of games is some sort of superlative, whatever that may be. While not the most advanced way of thinking, this gives Joe some "I know it when I see it" level of superstardom. And with the Brooklyn Nets' lack of actual superstardom, degrees matter. Spiritually, Joe Johnson has been the Nets true mascot—even before the Nets shipped the BrooklyKnight off to the big practice gymnasium in the sky. Coming to the Nets, Joe was couched in a stratospheric contract, six All-Star appearances and the promise of being the second half of a blue chip backcourt. This pedigree positioned him as a gaudy piece of Brooklyn's business model, but Joe ain’t gaudy. Despite his garish contract and any brash claims made by the Nets, Joe has been nothing but an efficient, consistent, blue-collar employee of the Brooklyn franchise. And this has been enough to make him the best player in Brooklyn franchise history. -Andrew Gnerre

Nets

Joe Johnson returns to Brooklyn, will receive video tribute tonight

By Jerry Kane

ap_16362133005390

Nets

New Year’s Resolutions for the Brooklyn Nets in 2017

By The Brooklyn Game

Prokhorov

Nets

Mikhail Prokhorov to sell minority share in Nets, will remain majority owner

By Benny Nadeau

Nets signings

Nets

2016-2017 Brooklyn Nets Season Preview: Up From Below

By Benny Nadeau

Isaiah Whitehead

Nets

Roundtable: Uncovering the Brooklyn Nets’ best lineups

By Benny Nadeau

Mike Fratello Ian Eagle

Nets

The Best of Devin Kharpertian

By Benny Nadeau

AP_110504080000

Nets

Rumor Mill: Nets looking for quick rebuild, want to add established veterans

By Benny Nadeau

AP Kathy Willens

Nets

Nets introduce Kenny Atkinson at HSS Training Center

By Elizabeth Swinton

AP338973004201

Nets

Report: Nets have approached Lokomotiv’s Malcolm Delaney

By Elizabeth Swinton

AP338973004201

Nets

Nets add cap and contract specialist, scouts to front office

By Benny Nadeau

Mike Budenholzer

Nets

Rapid Reactions: The Kenny Atkinson Edition

By Benny Nadeau

AP_599212639195

Nets

Brooklyn Nets Hire Kenny Atkinson As Head Coach

By Devin Kharpertian

AP_980729411500

Nets

Was this the worst season in Nets history?

By Devin Kharpertian

News from Around NYC

blood on pavement with police line

Queens stabbing: Man dead, two others hospitalized in early-morning bloodshed

Top dog: Joey Chestnut returns, wins 17th title at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

PD Dates 2000×1125

New York Family

What to Know About Amazon Prime Day 2025

Hanks10Close2

Schneps Podcasts

EA Hanks, Thank You For Coming Out